US energy secretary to join Iran nuclear talks

Ernest Moniz will join talks between Iran and the P5+1 over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program.

US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will join talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of states over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program, officials say.

Moniz, a nuclear physicist, flew to Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday where the talks are scheduled to be held on Sunday and Monday between senior negotiators from Iran and the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

"At the request of Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz will travel to Geneva on Saturday to join Secretary Kerry in continued negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program," an energy department spokesman said.

Other American energy officials have already been involved in the technical talks currently under way prior to the upcoming meetings.

"Department of Energy officials have consistently been involved in these in-depth technical discussions as part of the US negotiating team and Secretary Moniz will be joining the team in Geneva to continue these ongoing detailed technical deliberations."

The technical talks, which kicked off on Friday, will continue on Saturday and it will be attended by Ali Akbar Salehi, the director of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO).

Salehi will also hold separate talks with Moniz on the sidelines of the meetings.

"Salehi will hold talks on the technical aspects of the negotiations with the P5+1 group with US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz," IAEO spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said.

The two sides of the negotiations are in Geneva to narrow remaining gaps ahead of a deadline in late March for a framework agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group. The deadline for the final agreement is July 1.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman held talks on Friday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry are scheduled to join the talks on Sunday and hold discussions for two days.

The negotiations will focus on the timetable for the lifting of sanctions against Iran as well as the extent of Tehran's nuclear activities.

Iran has so far suspended some of its enrichment program in return for certain sanctions relief.